Microplastic abundance, characteristics, and associated ecological risk assessment in the selected coastal areas of Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines

This study aimed to provide the first description of the distribution, characteristics, and ecological risk of microplastics in water and sediment of selected coastal areas of Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines. A total of 10 coastal villages were sampled, and they were selected based on spatial variation. This study found microplastic contamination levels ranging from 50.0 to 216.67 ± 28.9 Items/L in water and 233.3 ± 57.7–516.67 ± 28.9 Items/Kg in sediment. The most common types of MP shapes were Fiber, Film, Fragment, and Flakes. The dominant polymer types in this study were PS (polystyrene), PETE (polyethylene terephthalate), and polypropylene (PP). Black, blue, white, and transparent were the dominant colors found in this study. The major microplastic size found in water samples were Large (>1.5 mm) and Medium (0.5–1.5 mm), and the dominant size in the sediment sample was small (<0.5 mm). Four pollution parameters were measured in this study. The contamination factor value indicated that the samples were highly and considerably contaminated. The Pollution Load Index indicated all samples as polluted (>1). The polymeric risk value indicated risk category level III, and finally Pollution risk assessment value for all samples indicated a high-risk category. All of these parameters were shown through a spatial distribution map using Geography and Information System (GIS). The findings of this study suggest that microplastics found in marine water and sediment are crucial in the context of MP pollution, highlighting the need for further research.